Look out for this poisonous, cow-killing weed

That’s not a character from a Harry Potter book, though it sort of sounds like one. Tansy ragwort is a poisonous weed that’ s burgeoning in Western Washington, and you can blame our cooler-than-usual summer for that.

The plant, which looks a little like a yellow daisy, is known for killing cows, horses and goats.

Tansy ragwort is a plant that grows to 4 feet tall with daisylike yellow flowers, each with 13 petals. Alarms go off among livestock owners when they find tansy in active pastures, because the plant can kill cows, horses and goats. With its high concentration of dangerous alkaloids, it is also poisonous to people and pets.

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board reports an unusually high number of tansy ragwort sightings this year. That could be because the plant’s sword archenemy — yes, plants have those, too — the Cinnabar moth isn’t thriving like it has in past years.

If you find tansy ragwort in your yard, pull it up by the roots and put it in a plastic bag so the seeds don’t spread. Wear gloves and avoid touching the plant with your skin.